As requested a few pictures will follow of this new boat project, it will take a while because I work on a few different models as the mood takes me.
These pictures show the 1/32 plywood cut on the paper cutter for laminating the ribs
the second picture shows a number of the ribs and their associated formers.
Michael
The formers were set up on a building board so that the ribs could be supported to add the redwood planks.
The first pic show the building board with the formers set up with the keel the board was designed so I could lift off the hull during construction.
The second pic shows the laminated ribs added
the third pic shows the garboard strake added.
Michael
After the first few planks were fitted on both sides working down from the keel I started to work from the sheer strake up toward the keel The redwood planks were sawn from some panels salvaged from a garage door that someone had replaced with a new door. the planks are 5/32 x various widths.
The first pic shows the test fitting of the sheer strake
The second and third show the cutting of the planks to shape, I used a #11 this was the easiest way to work without causing a lot of sawdust and was quite meditative.
Michael
The next planks were getting trickier to bend and fit so I made a small steam box to fit on the kitchen stove, the planks were cut in pairs but I could only glue one at a time so this whole process too a few days. first using a card template to shape the plank, next steaming it then clamping it to the building frames till it was dry then doing the final tweaking before gluing to the frames.
The time in the steam box was 30 minutes.
the third picture shows why I wanted to be able to lift the hull off the building form, this allowed me to see how the inside was gluing up.
Michael
Once the hull planking was completed the extra ribs were cut and installed I changed tacks at this point and made the ribs from solid wood, I used Castelo Boxwood and soaked the ribs in Alcohol the bent them into the hull to dry the glued then in.
The first pic shows the clamping of the last ribs before moving on to the deck ledge.
The second shows the hull ready for the two main bulkheads.
The third shows the deck framing half complete and the bulkheads installed.
the last shows the name board over the forward bulkhead this was my first carving all I used was a #11 blade the wood is Castelo.
Michael
The forward deck planking was accomplished by heat bending some square Castelo wood to the shape of the deck then splitting it with the jewelers saw to create a book matched pair.
The first pic shows the square strip bent and ready to be split
The second shows the pair being prepared to be glued to the deck frames and cover board
The third shows a small scraping tool made from a razor blade to cut the rebate into the curved planks
The last shows the progress of the planks some glued other ready to be split then glued
Michael
When I got to the last few planks the gaps left for clamps was getting too tight for the regular clamps so i made some small ones that would be flexible enough in the way they could be manipulated to get into tight spots.
The first pic shows the clamps in use
The second shows some different sizes
The third illustrated how to compensate for different ranges and the quick spring type which was the first iteration, which proved to be difficult to use, the second type with the tubular spacer is much easier to use.
The last picture shows the deck having the low points of the glue caulking being filled with extra coloured Titebond III glue.
Michael
Finally this is where the model is at, and a drawing of the small clamps for anyone who might find them useful.
The mast is cedar
The mast hoops were made by using some butchers gummed tape and letting it cure for a day before sanding it to shape and colouring it with prismacolor felt them waxing with floor wax.
Michael
In one of the Dirty Harry movies, Clint Eastwood said, "A man's gotta know his limitations." Mine become painfully obvious to me when I see how you build models. Good heavens! -- Russ
Thanks for documenting this Michael! Though one phrase stood out: "ribs, in alcohol". Umm, smells great!
Most sailing hulls I consider things of beauty but combined with this level of skill and craftsmanship it becomes an art form.
Looking at your pics makes me feel very embarrassed about how I approach my little plastic builds, even your home produced tools exceed anything I could achieve and make me think I need to have a serious think about about my modelling.
It's a bit of an academic question, as I know it will be way beyond my capabilities but how did you produce the T&G boards on the bulkheads
Thanks for the kind remarks I take them as serious compliments from the work that I see you all do.
Gordon the boards for the bulkheads are done the same way as the deck planks. I made a scraping tool to put in the grove the individual boards were glued to some 1/8th Basswood sheet.The very fine grain of the Castelo is what makes this possible. The key is to keep the tool upright as you scrape, and work on a piece of flat glass. I used some double sided tape to create stops with some scraps to hold the boards firm while I scraped. with the right shape ground into the bottom of the single edged razor when you get to the bottom the shape is formed. In a way it is like the old cabinet makers scraping blades for making the fluting on pilasters for fine cabinets. The tool for the rebate on the deck planks is the same type and during a few planks in the blade snapped so I inserted the broken piece into a small block of wood and glued it with CA this did make it easier on my fingers doing the deck planks.
Michael
Going through these photos and the accompanying text, one begins to get the impression that you know what you're doing. :)
Seriously, this is very impressive work! The tip for making a scraping tool to carve the grooves, should come in handy for many of us.
I like this boat and the work is well done.
Wow!!! As always wonderful craftsmanship..... Allan
Beautiful work Michael!
I love all your home made tools!
Have you ever looked at or used some of Veritas' miniature tools?
I have some of their planes and love them, but I love all planes!
-Marty
Michael, I saw the recent posts under "Re: Is anyone out there" with your update to this model. She looks gorgeous!
I just read the red warning but I did not answer Marty or Bill's questions, so late as it is, Marty yes I do have a couple of the miniature planes, and also a few of the big ones, I just picked up the fore plane.
Bill Thanks for your kind words I will be getting back to this boat soon enough. I need to make a mould to cast the lead keel next.
Michael
About two years late but as usual your craftsmanship is incredible ....Allan